Social Wellbeing and Happiness among Ageing Population of Kirtipur Municipality, Kathmandu

Abstract

Social wellbeing refers to the quality of relationship and interaction of a person with others in society including sense of belonging and the level of satisfaction with their social interaction and happiness is a positive emotional state where a person feels joy and satisfaction with their life, which are the important factors helping to foster healthy and happy lives of growing aging population in Nepal. This study aims to explore the status and correlation of social wellbeing and happiness among ageing population using a mixed-method approach including surveys and interviews integrated through Social Wellbeing Standards (Keyes, 1998) and Oxford Happiness Questionnaires (Hills and Argyle, 2002). Purposive sampling design has been used to identify and select the sample population of 120 individuals over 60 years of age among which 55.8% are males and 44.2% are females of Kirtipur Municipality, ward number-10, Kathmandu, Nepal. The data collected has been analyzed using SPSS and interpreted with Karl Pearson’s correlation coefficient, independent sample t-test and F-test (ANOVA). The study has revealed most of the aging population (47%) is with moderate social wellbeing and least of the aging populations (18%) are with higher social wellbeing. The most of the aging population of this study are with moderate happiness (31.7%) and least of the aging populations (18.3%) are found with low happiness. The correlation between the social wellbeing and happiness has been found positively correlated (r=0.277) indicating the positive connectivity of social wellbeing and happiness. The comparison of mean value between social wellbeing and gender is significantly different (p=0.001) between males (3.35±0.81) and females (2.84±0.80) indicating males have more social wellbeing than females. The mean value difference between social wellbeing and migration status of the aging population has revealed the significance difference (p=0.000) between locals (3.48±0.76) and migrants (2.82±0.80) indicating locals have more social wellbeing status than the migrants. The mean value difference among the caste groups with Brahmin/Chhetri, Janajati and Dalits and social wellbeing is obtained significantly different (p=0.000) with Dalits having higher level of social wellbeing (3.82±0.63) compared to Brahmin/Chhetri (2.88±0.80) and Janajati (3.37±0.80). The mean value difference among the social security allowance receiver is found significantly different (p=0.001) with the higher social wellbeing of the pension receivers (3.4±0.80) than ageing allowance receiver (3.02±0.82) and non-receivers (2.52±0.68). The mean value difference among the past occupation variables with social wellbeing is found significantly different (p=0.024) having respondents with local works as past occupation with higher level of social wellbeing (3.6±0.75) compared to government jobs (3.44± 0.81), agriculture (3.04±0.82), foreign employment (3.16±0.78), INGO’s/NGOs (3.24±0.82), local business (2.81±0.68) and housewives (2.77±0.84) with least social wellbeing status. The study has outlined the most of the respondents with moderate happiness (31.7%) and least of the respondents are found with low happiness (18.3%). The comparison of mean value between happiness and gender is significantly different (p=0.03) between males (4.29 ±0.15) and females (3.77 ±0.17) indicating males have higher level of happiness compared to the females. Respondents with higher level of education are found significantly happier (p=0.011) with the mean and standard deviation (4.82±1.36) compared to Illiterate (3.85±1.16), Secondary Level of education (4.23±1.31) and primary level of education (3.53±1.76) with least happiness. The comparison of mean value among the social security with happiness allowance receivers has been obtained significantly different (p=0.045) with the mean and standard deviation value of (4.49±1.33) compared aging allowance receivers (3.86±1.24) and non-receivers (3.83±1.26) with least happiness among the groups. Male found with higher social wellbeing and happiness is due to traditional patriarchal Nepalese society where men hold more authority in decision making, education, employment and property ownership and it fosters their social wellbeing and happiness. Lack of access to education, employment, opportunity in social activity and freedom to community gatherings females have lower social wellbeing and happiness compared to males. Locals have high level of social integration, sense of belongingness and connectedness to enhance their social wellbeing and migrants find hard to adjust inn different culture and tradition which hinders their social wellbeing. The caste groups with higher social wellbeing have been contributed by their local status, strong social network, sense of belongingness, supportive friends and neighbors, shared responsibilities and recipient of social security allowance in the form of pension and ageing allowance. Past occupation contributed to the affirmation in the society though the dignity of the professions and networks created along with the financial security due to intergenerational continuity of the occupation and recipient of the pension. Higher the education more confirmed is the happiness status since the education provided the broad sense of adaptation, sense of financial autonomy and contribution to the society through the community programs. The social security measures like ageing allowance and pensions provide the financial regularity and stability, dignity and reduced dependency. The familial connectedness, community engagement programs, ageing friendly urban planning and development, formation of Retired Professional Clubs (RPC) to utilize the skills, knowledge and experiences, awareness programs including digital literacy and technological interferences, expansion and continuation of social security schemes by Government of Nepal and Social Welfare Programs including engagement of aging population in academic institution through book free day, community based programs like bhajan/kirtan, mediation, counseling etc. by provincial and local governments are envisioned interventions required for the better social wellbeing and happiness of aging population.